Advancing Rural Family Medicine: The Canadian Collaborative Taskforce

The Advancing Rural Family Medicine: Canadian Collaborative Taskforce (Taskforce) is a joint initiative of the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC) and the Society of Rural Physicians of Canada (SRPC). The goal of this joint initiative is to enhance equitable access to health care and improve patient outcomes in rural and remote communities in Canada.

Striving to support equitable access to health care services and improve the health of individuals living in rural Canada, the College of Family Physicians of Canada and the Society of Rural Physicians of Canada are pleased to share this new 11-minute video describing the Rural Road Map for Action. The Advancing Rural Family Medicine: Canadian Collaborative Taskforce created the Rural Road Map with the input of key stakeholders from across the country. The Rural Road Map highlights four directions and 20 actions designed to guide the enhancement of rural health care in Canada. Please share this video widely and be part of the movement taking action.

RURAL ROAD MAP FOR ACTION LAUNCH

A national summit was hosted on February 22, 2017 in Ottawa dedicated to improving health care access and equity in rural communities in Canada. The Summit marked the launch of the Rural Road Map for Action that provides 20 recommendations to enhance rural health care. The recommendations identify four directions outlined in the Rural Road Map that aim to:

Reinforce the social accountability mandate of medical schools and residency programs to address health care needs of rural and Indigenous communities

Institute a national rural research agenda to support rural workforce planning aimed at improving access to patient-centered and quality-focused care in rural Canada

The Summit focused on how the recommendations can be translated into actions that are coordinated, comprehensive, measurable, and sustainable. The aim is to engage all stakeholders in applying these recommendations to future policy-making and planning, as well as to identify roles in addressing issues related to health care equity for rural Canada. The Summit united national leaders in education, practice and human resource planning, as well as physicians of rural and Indigenous communities. We are pleased to share with you with the final report of the Summit to Improve Health Care Access and Equity for Rural Communities in Canada.